Download Absolute Phrases (Noun Part + Describing phrase or word/s)

Descriptive Writing Techniques
1. Absolute Phrases (Noun Part + Describing phrase or word/s)
Sentence 1: NOUN-part +ING

The man fell off the huge cliff, his loud voice cutting
through the wind.

His tail twitching, the lion stared intently at his
prey.
Sentence 2: NOUN-part + ED
His claws extended, the lion stared intently at his
prey.
 The small child spoke indistinctly, his mouth filled
with food.
 Our imaginations stimulated by the presentation, we
began to write beautiful poems.

Sentence 3: NOUN-part + describer (adj./phrase)
 The dog crept towards the fire, its body cold to the
bone.
 Her stomach empty, the small child sat at the table
once again with little to eat.
Sentence 4: NOUN-part + LIKE.AS (comparison)
 We sailed on the bay, our sailboat like a seagull gliding
effortlessly.
Descriptive Writing Techniques
Now you try it…
Noun-part + ING
1. The cat sprinted up the tree. Its claws were
sinking into the bark. Its whiskers were
twitching nervously.
2. The student sat in his desk. His head was
spinning with all this new information.
Noun-part + ED
1. His feather were ruffled. The bird flew away.
2. His fists were clenched. John seethed as he
bore the insults from the coach.
Noun-part + describer
1. Her knees were bent. She displayed perfect
form as she dove into the pool.
2. His mouth was agape. He stood motionless as
he watched the unidentified flying object hover
overhead.
Noun-part + like or as
1. Her legs were like jello. Sue made her way to
the edge of the gym with great difficulty.
2. His eyes were as big as saucers. John ran down
the hall. His hand was holding a tissue over his
bleeding chin.
Descriptive Writing Techniques
2. Vivid Verbs
The gravel road curled around the barn as the duck
strutted by.
Now you try it:
1. In my neighborhood there are many abandoned
vehicles.
Revise using a strong verb:
2. The cat was struck by a car.
Revise using a strong, active verb:
3. Adjectives Out of Order
The large bull moose, angry and red-eyed, charged
the intruder
Now you try it:
1. My mother was forlorn and frayed. She faced the
ironing board alone each day.
2. The clown was bright and cheerful. He delighted the
crowd.
3. The ceremony was formal and fast. It ended rather
abruptly.
Descriptive Writing Techniques
4. Appositives
The waterfall, a tilted pitcher of fresh, crystal water,
poured rainbow sprays into the creek.
Now you try it:
Rewrite this Steinbeck line from The Chrysanthemums.
1. Elisa watched them for a moment and then went
back to her work. She was a thirty-five year-old.
Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were
clear as water.
2. Maria’s art teacher was a dedicated instructor and
avid connoisseur of art. She suggested that Maria
read about Raphael before her visit.
5. Participles & Participial Phrases
The lion, growling and twitching his tail, crouched in
the tall grass
Now you try it:
1. Jane Austen wrote about a specific population. She
explored the demands of society and family.
2. I was walking along. I was whistling when I heard
the dogfight.
3. I came out of the bottomland into the fresh-plowed
field. I set my pups down.
Descriptive Writing Techniques
4.